Samuel James Miller, a senior constable, pleaded guilty in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court on Wednesday to three counts of misconduct as a public official.

Eight other charges, which included intending to pervert the course of justice, making a false document and using a false document, were struck out.

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Defence counsel Jason Gullaci had filed submissions to make an application for the matter to be heard in the Magistrates' Court, rather than a higher court, but magistrate Patrick Southey indicated he would refuse the application.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began he had granted more of these summary jurisdiction applications to keep the justice system moving, Mr Southey said, but he felt Miller's matter had to be dealt with by a higher court.

Mr Southey said Miller's offending was committed out of laziness, on his own admission, rather than greed or corruption, but he was a police officer.

Miller will appear in the County Court in Bendigo at a later date.

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